Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Nov. 8, 192].

U i 1,648,320 J. JR. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 X Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,320

J. F. OCONNOR Q FRIcTI'bN SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM H filed .211 6, 1 926 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 8, i927.

g arena JOHN F. ocenrton, or onroaeo, ILLinors, Assranon T w. n. MINER, INC; on,

CHICAGO, rLLInoIsa ooaroaarron or DELAVIARE.

FRICTION snocxnnsoasmo nrnerranism.

Application filed July 6,

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide, a friction shock absorbing mechanismespecially adapted for railway draft riggings inclnding a plurality of friction elements having inter-engaging wedge friction surfaces of different angularity to provide for successive stages of frictional resistance of different capacities.

A fiirther ob'ect of the invention is to provide in a friction shock absorbing mech anism, including wedge blocks and side friction I members having inter-engaging wedge faces, wherein certain of the wedge blocks and side, members have. the. inter-engaging f-acesdisposed at a relatively reener wedge-acting angle with reference to the direction of the applied actuating force than the remaining inter-engaging faces thereof, to produce increasing resistance in two successive stages. p

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanism of the character indicated, employing wedge blocks and side friction members having inter-engaging facesdisposed at keener acting angles than the remaining inter'engaging wedge faces, means for limiting the relative. movement of the friction members having the keen wedge faces to bring into operation the members provided with the blunter wedge faces.

A more spec fic object of the invention is to provlde a frict on shock absorbmgmechanism hav ng two. sets of side friction mema ting with one of said sets, and blunt angle wedge membersco-operating with the other set, wherein the wedge members are relatively movable with reference to each other and means is provided for limiting the relative movement of the wedge members having the keen faces after-a predetermined compression of the mechanism and, permit aetuation of the wedge members having the blunt faces during the remainder of the compression stroke to produce augmented frictional resistance. v

d ,Other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

. In; the drawings'forming a part of this specification, Figure. 1. is a horizontal, longitndinal, sectional View of'a portion of a .92s. Serial No. 129,777.

railway draft rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith. And Figure. 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View corresponding substantially to the line 2 2' ofFignrel. f i in said drawings, -10 indicate channel shaped center or draft sillsof a railwaycar" underframe to the inner facesof whichare' secured front stop lugs 111l and rearstop lugs 1212. The inner end portion of drawbar is designated by 13: to which is operatively connected a yoke 14 of" well known form. The shock absorbing m sh; nism proper is operatively disposed within the yoke. I i

The SllOCK absorbing mechanism proper comprises broadly, a pair of front rear follower blocks AA; a central wedge block a set of side members C-O having blunt wedge faces; a set of side members D- D having keen wedge faces; transverselyyextending bolts EE; two pairs of spring resistance elements T,F; and two sets of v v the same being disposed at a relatively blunt bers, keen angle. wedge members co-oper angle with respect'tothe. longitudinalaxis of the mechanism. Each of the block'sj A is'also provided with an inwardly extend ing, central rib 118 for a pnrposeherein after described. I

The central wedge block B is in theform of a hollow casting and has front and rear sets of wedge faces, the front set being designated by 1818 and the rear set by,19 19. The wedge faces 19 are disposed at a relatively keen angle Y with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe mechanism andthe I wedge faces 18 at a relatively blunt angle to said axis, theinclinationof the faces 19 preferably corresponding to the inclination of the faces 16 of the rear: follower block A and thein cli'nation of the faces. 18 preferably corresponding to the inclination of the face's'lirof the front follower block iii) The central wedge block B has a pair of ribs 20. One of the ribs is disposed at the front end of the block and in alinement with the rib 118 of the front follower block A and the other rib 20 is disposed at the rear end of the block and is in alinement with the rib 118 of therear follower block A. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the ribs 118 and 20 are slotted to accommodate the corresponding retainer bolt E and at the. Sametime permit a certain amount of relative movement of the follower blocks A and the central wedge block B. The ribs 20 of the follower blocks A and-the central wedge block B are of such a length as to permit a predeterminedamount of relative movement between these parts and then arrest further movement of the same. The side members are four in number and are arranged in sets as the front and rear end of the mechanism, one set C-C co-operating With the front follower A and the central wedge block B, andthe other set DD cooperating with the rear follower A and the central wedge block; The front set of side members CC are of similar design and each is provided with a pair of wedge faces 117118 on the inner side thereof, co-operating respectively with the wedge faces 1'? and 18 of the front follower A and wedge block B at the same sioe of the mechanism and correspondingly inclined thereto. Each of the blooks D of the rear set is provided with a pair of wedge faces 116 and 119 cooperating with the wedge faces 16 and 19 of the rear follower A and the central wedge block at the same side of the mechanism and correspondingly inclined thereto. Each til) of the side members C and D is provided with a bore 21- adapted to loosely aoconn modate the corresponding retainer bolt E.

The'bores 21 of the side members of each set are in transverse alinement as most clearly shown in Figure 1 to receive the corresponding retainer bolt Relative separation of the side member ofeach pair is opposed by the spring resistance elements F which are disposed on the outer sides of the draft sills and interposed between collars 22 fixed to the outer ends of the bolts and spring followers G bearing directly on the side members. The spring followers G' are provided with inner c lindrical sections 23, slidingly accommodated within the elongated openings 24 provided in the draft sills 10. Each of the collars G has an annular flange 25 on which the inner f projecting outwardly beyond the flange 25 and extending into the inner coil of the corresponding spring resistance element 'F. The slots 24in the draft'sillsare, of such a length as to permit free movement longitudinally of the mechanism of the spring followers G during the entire operation of the gear. ,.I preferably employ a pair of retainer bolts 26 to limit the longitudinal separation of the front follower block A and the central wedge block C when the mechanism is in full release. The retainer bolts 26 are the proper clearance between the inner end of the front follower A and the front end of the central wedge block B It will beevident that by providing the retainer bolts for limiting the longitudinal separation of the front follower A and the central wedge block B, the proper sequence of operation of the wedge blocks C and D is assured and compensation for wear of the various friction surfaces is taken care of.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism, during a compression stroke is as follows: The follower blocks A will be moved inwardly toward each other and the co-operating keen wedge facesof the side members 1), the rearfollower A and the central Wedge block B will first become operative thereby effecting separation of the side member D resisted by the springs F. This action will continue until the lugs 118 and 20 of the rear follower block A and the outwardly against the resistance of the springs F and due to the blunt angle of the co-operating wedge faces of these side mem bers and the front follower and central wedge block, the frictional resistance offered will be greatly augmented. It will be evident that two stages of frictional resistance are thus had, the second stage being greater than the first. The described action will continue until the ribs 20 of the front follower A and the central wedge block come into engagement, whereupon further compression of the mechanism will be limited and the actuating force transmitted through the followers A and the central friction block'B to the 'stop lugs on the draft, sills,

the members A-A and B acting as a solid are adjusted to such a length as to provide column to transmit the load directly to the draft sills.

Upon reduction of the actuating force, the

spring resistance elements F will force the than the wedge blocks D, there will be a tendency for the former to advance with reference to the latter. Lateral inward movement of the wedge blocks C will be positively arrested upon the limit of longitudinal separation of the front follower block A and the central wedge block B being reached. As hereinbefore pointed out, longitudinal separation of the front follower block A and the central wedge block B is limited by the retainer bolts 26. Due to the lateral inward movement of the block G being positively limited, the wedge blocks D will be properly positioned when the mechanism is in full release as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. r

WVhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: 4 d

1. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with end followers movable relatively to each other; of a float ing central member; front and rear sets of side members, one of said sets having wedge faces disposed at a relatively blunt angle with respect to the longitudinal aXis of the mechanism,'said wedge faces co-operating with similar wedge faces on the central member and the follower at the corresponding end of the mechanism and the other set having wedge faces disposed at a relatively-keen angleto said axis, the keen faces co-operating with similar wedge faces on the central member and the other main follower; and yielding means opposing lateral separation of each set of side members.

21In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with end followers movable relatively toward each other; of a central wedge member; front and rear sets of a side members, one of said sets having wedgefaces disposed at a blunt angle with respect to the direction of the actuating force and co-operating withsimilar wedge faces on the central member and the follower at the corresponding end of the mechanism and the other set having wedge faces disposed at a keen angle to the direction of said actuating force, said keen faces co-operating with similar wedge faces on the central member and the other main follower; yielding. means op- V posing lateral separation of said side members; and co operating means on said front andrear followers and central member to limit the relative approach thereof r 3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with end followers relatively movable toward and away from v I each other; a central wedge member; front and rear sets of side members each side member having wedge faces co-operating respectively with one of said followers and the central wedge member, the wedge faces of one of said followers'and the wedge faces of the central wedge member at the same end of the mechanism being disposed at a keener angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the.

mechanism than the remaining wedge faces,

tion of the remaining side membersafter a' predetermined compression of the mechanism to provide for successive stages of 1ncreasing frictional resistance.

4. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with draft sills having front and rear stop lugs thereon; of a friction shock absorbing mechanism disposed between said draft sills, said mechanism including: a front and a rear follower relatively movable toward! each other, a central wedge member, front and rear sets of side members, said side members having wedge faces cooperating with the front and rear followers and central wedge member, the Wedge faces of one of said sets of sidemembers being disposed at a keener angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism than the other set of side members; transversely arranged retainer bolts extending through said sets of saidfoliower having the keener wedge faces side members; stop means at the opposite 5 ends of said bolts and spring resistance elements interposed between each stop means of each bolt and the corresponding side member at the same side of the mechanism.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribedmy name this 30th day of une 1926. 7 JOHN F. oo'oNNon 

